Orthotic device and method of making an orthotic device

Abstract

An orthotic device (10) that may be particularly effective in the treatment of scoliosis comprises a torso section (20) and a resilient reinforcement (40) attached to the torso section. The reinforcement extends diagonally across a front and/or a rear portion of the torso section between a first attachment point (51) at a first side of the torso section and a second attachment point (52) at a second side of the torso section. At least one of the first attachment point and the second attachment point is locally indented into the torso section such that the reinforcement is stretched when device is donned a patient, thereby applying a force to the patient's torso.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An orthotic device for donning by a wearer to treat scoliosis, comprising:
 a torso section fabricated from resilient material, configured for conforming to at least a portion of the wearer's torso, and including a front portion, a rear portion, a first side, and a second side, wherein the first side includes a first attachment point and the second side includes a second attachment point and a third attachment point, wherein the torso section has a shape wherein at least one of the first, second, and third attachment points is indented relative to adjacent portions of the respective first and/or second sides such that a circumference of the torso section is reduced at the indent or indents when the torso section is in a non-tensioned condition; and 
 a reinforcement configured for applying a force to the wearer's torso to urge a portion of the wearer's spine in a lateral direction to treat scoliosis, the reinforcement comprising a panel of resilient material including two panel portions that are angled relative to each other to form a V-shape, that are attached to the torso section, and that extend across the front portion, the rear portion, or both, of the torso section between the first and second sides, with a first apex end of the V-shaped reinforcement attached to the first attachment point at the first side of the torso section and second and third opposite ends of the reinforcement attached to the second and third attachment points at the second side of the torso section, 
 wherein the resilient reinforcement is attached to the first, second, and third attachment points of the torso section with the resilient reinforcement in a non-tensioned condition such that the resilient reinforcement attached to the torso section is stretched automatically and thereby becomes tensioned only when the orthotic device is donned by the wearer and thereby applies the force to the wearer's torso, and 
 wherein the indent or indents at the first, second, and/or third attachment points are formed when the torso section and the reinforcement are both in their respective non-tensioned conditions such that the indent or indents are formed by the shape of the torso section in its non-tensioned condition and not due to untensioning of the reinforcement, and 
 wherein the reinforcement does not extend over any of the wearer's shoulders when worn. 
 
     
     
       2. An orthotic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the material forming the torso section is a lightweight resilient material that can conform to the wearer's body without giving rise to lines of tension or compression in any specific direction, and the reinforcement comprises a different resilient material. 
     
     
       3. An orthotic device according to  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcement comprises sections of the different resilient material capable of providing a constant force to urge the wearer's torso in a specific direction, the sections of the different resilient material being applied to the torso section in the form of panels or strips of material. 
     
     
       4. An orthotic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment point is situated vertically higher than the second attachment point and vertically lower than the third attachment point. 
     
     
       5. An orthotic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement is a first reinforcement, further comprising a second reinforcement, the second reinforcement comprising resilient material stitched to the torso section such that it applies a rotational force that is configured to rotate the torso of the wearer, wherein the second reinforcement has a first end located at the front portion of the torso section adjacent to a shoulder of the torso section, extends over the shoulder and downwards beneath an armpit of the torso section, and further extends diagonally downwards across the front portion of the torso section to a second end located at a hip portion of the torso section. 
     
     
       6. An orthotic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the magnitude of the force generated by the reinforcement when the device is worn is related to a depth that at least one of the attachment points is indented into the respective side of the torso section. 
     
     
       7. An orthotic device according to  claim 1  wherein in use the second attachment point is configured to be located at the wearer's hip on the second side of the torso section, the third attachment point is configured to be located below an arm opening on the second side of the torso section, and the first attachment point is configured to be located between the wearer's hip and an arm opening on the first side of the torso section. 
     
     
       8. A method of making the orthotic device according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 determining a vertical position of the first attachment point based on x-rays of the wearer's torso; 
 producing the torso section for substantially-conforming to the wearer's body, the torso section being indented at the first attachment point; and 
 attaching the reinforcement to the torso section such that the reinforcement is automatically stretched when the device is worn. 
 
     
     
       9. An orthotic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement is stitched to the torso section along edges of the resilient material of the reinforcement. 
     
     
       10. A method of making an orthotic device according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 providing the torso section with the first and second sides having the respective indent or indents at the respective first, second, and/or third attachment points pre-existing in the shape of the torso section when in its non-tensioned condition; and 
 attaching the reinforcement to the torso section when the reinforcement is in its non-tensioned condition. 
 
     
     
       11. An orthotic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement is a first reinforcement, further comprising a second reinforcement, the second reinforcement comprising resilient material attached to the torso section such that it applies a rotational force that is configured to rotate the torso of the wearer, wherein the second reinforcement has a first end located at a rear portion of the torso section adjacent to a shoulder of the torso section, extends over the shoulder and downwards beneath an armpit of the torso section, and further extends diagonally downwards across the rear portion of the torso section to a second end located at a hip portion of the torso section, or wherein the second reinforcement has a first end located at the front portion of the torso section adjacent to the shoulder of the torso section, extends over the shoulder and downwards beneath the armpit of the torso section, and further extends diagonally downwards across the front portion of the torso section to a second end located at the hip portion of the torso section. 
     
     
       12. An orthotic device for donning by a wearer to treat scoliosis, comprising:
 a torso section fabricated from resilient material and configured for conforming to at least a portion of the wearer's torso, wherein the torso section has first and second sides with a first attachment point at the first side and second and third attachment points at the second side, wherein the torso section has a shape with at least one of the first and third attachment points indented relative to adjacent portions of the respective first and/or second sides such that a circumference of the torso section is reduced at the indent or indents, wherein the first attachment point is located vertically higher than the second attachment point and vertically lower than the third attachment point, wherein the second attachment point is not indented relative to adjacent portions of the second side; and 
 a reinforcement configured for applying a lateral force to the wearer's torso to urge a portion of the wearer's spine in a lateral direction to treat scoliosis, the reinforcement comprising a panel of resilient material including two panel portions that are angled relative to each other to form a V-shape and that extend across the torso section between the first and second sides, with a first apex end of the V-shaped reinforcement attached to the first attachment point at the first side of the torso section and second and third opposite ends of the V-shaped reinforcement attached to the second and third attachment points at the second side of the torso section, 
 wherein the indent or indents are formed when the torso section and the reinforcement are both in a non-tensioned condition such that the indent or indents are not formed due to untensioning of the reinforcement, such that the reinforcement is stretched automatically so that the attachment points are no longer indented relative to adjacent portions of the respective first and/or second sides when the orthotic device is donned by the wearer and thereby applies the lateral force to the wearer's torso, and 
 wherein the reinforcement does not extend over any of the wearer's shoulders when worn. 
 
     
     
       13. An orthotic device according to  claim 12 , wherein the V-shaped panel portions of the reinforcement each extend across a front portion of the torso section between the first and second sides, and wherein the reinforcement further comprises a rear panel of resilient material including two rear panel portions that are angled relative to each other to form a V-shape and that extend across a rear portion of the torso section between the first and second sides. 
     
     
       14. An orthotic device according to  claim 13 , wherein the front and rear V-shaped panels of the reinforcement together form two bands that encircle the torso section. 
     
     
       15. An orthotic device according to  claim 12  wherein the second attachment point is configured to be located at the wearer's hip on the second side of the torso section and the third attachment point is located below an arm opening on the second side of the torso section, the first attachment point being configured to be located between the wearer's hip and an arm opening on the first side of the torso section. 
     
     
       16. An orthotic device according to  claim 12 , wherein an upper one of the panel portions of the V-shaped reinforcement extends diagonally across the torso section between the first and third attachment points, and the third attachment point is vertically spaced from the second attachment point on the second side of the torso section and the first attachment point is vertically positioned between the second and third attachment points, the reinforcement being configured to apply the lateral force to urge the wearer's torso in the lateral direction toward the second side of the torso section. 
     
     
       17. An orthotic device according to  claim 12 , wherein the circumference of the torso section is reduced at the indent or indents by 7.5% to 20%. 
     
     
       18. An orthotic device for donning by a wearer to treat scoliosis, comprising:
 a torso section fabricated from resilient material and configured for conforming to at least a portion of the wearer's torso, wherein the torso section has first and second sides with a first attachment point at the first side and second and third attachment points at the second side, and wherein the torso section has a shape with the first attachment point indented relative to adjacent portions of the first side and with the third attachment point indented relative to adjacent portions of the second side such that a circumference of the torso section is reduced at the indents and thus such that when donned by the wearer the torso section needs to stretch more at the indents than at the adjacent portions to conform to the wearer's torso, wherein the first attachment point is located vertically higher than the second attachment point and vertically lower than the third attachment point, and wherein the second attachment point is not indented relative to adjacent portions of the second side; and 
 a reinforcement configured for applying a lateral force to the wearer's torso to urge a portion of the wearer's spine in a lateral direction to treat scoliosis, the reinforcement comprising a panel of resilient material including two panel portions that are angled relative to each other to form a V-shape and that extend across the torso section between the first and second sides, with a first apex end of the V-shaped reinforcement attached to the first attachment point at the first side of the torso section and second and third opposite ends of the V-shaped reinforcement attached to the second and third attachment points at the second side of the torso section, wherein at least one of the panels of the V-shaped reinforcement extends diagonally across the torso section between the indents of the first and second sides, 
 wherein the indents are formed when the torso section and the reinforcement are both in a non-tensioned condition such that the indents are not formed due to untensioning of the reinforcement, wherein the reinforcement is stretched automatically when the orthotic device is donned by the wearer and thereby applies the lateral force to the wearer's torso, and 
 wherein the reinforcement does not extend over any of the wearer's shoulders when worn.